U.S. patent application number 12/749887 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-06 for controlling media consumption privacy settings.
This patent application is currently assigned to MICROSOFT CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Doug Berrett, Cory Cirrincione, Chad Gibson, Clifton James Hebert, Sean Kollenkark, Joe McClanahan.
Application Number | 20110246572 12/749887 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44465107 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110246572 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kollenkark; Sean ; et
al. |
October 6, 2011 |
CONTROLLING MEDIA CONSUMPTION PRIVACY SETTINGS
Abstract
Embodiments related to controlling media privacy settings are
disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a media server system
including a configured to receive media consumption data for each
media content item of a plurality of media content items consumed
by a user. Media consumption data for each media content item
includes an item-specific privacy status and a media content item
identifier. The server is also configured to receive, from one or
more of another user and a media content item recommendations
program, a request for access to the media consumption data for a
media content item, and to provide one or more of the other user
and the media content item recommendations program with access to
the media consumption data based on the item-specific privacy
status of the media consumption data.
Inventors: |
Kollenkark; Sean; (Seattle,
WA) ; Gibson; Chad; (Seattle, WA) ; Hebert;
Clifton James; (Redmond, WA) ; Cirrincione; Cory;
(Bellevue, WA) ; Berrett; Doug; (Seattle, WA)
; McClanahan; Joe; (Redmond, WA) |
Assignee: |
MICROSOFT CORPORATION
Redmond
WA
|
Family ID: |
44465107 |
Appl. No.: |
12/749887 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/204 ;
709/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/306 20130101;
G06F 21/6245 20130101; H04N 21/4826 20130101; H04N 21/4788
20130101; H04N 21/4755 20130101; G06F 16/9535 20190101; H04L 65/403
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/204 ;
709/229 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A media server system for controlling a privacy setting, the
media server system comprising: a logic subsystem to execute
instructions; and a data-holding subsystem holding instructions
executable by the logic subsystem to: receive media consumption
data for each media content item of a plurality of media content
items consumed by a user, the media consumption data for each media
content item comprising an item-specific privacy status and a media
content item identifier, receive, from one or more of another user
and a media content item recommendations program, a request for
access to the media consumption data for a selected media content
item, and provide one or more of the other user and the media
content item recommendations program with access to the media
consumption data for the media content item based on the
item-specific privacy status for the selected media content
item.
2. The media server system of claim 1, where the item-specific
privacy status comprises one or more of: a sharing status
indicating whether information regarding consumption of the
selected media content item can be shared with other users of the
media server system, and a recommendations status indicating
whether the selected media content item is useable to generate
media content item recommendations.
3. The media server system of claim 2, where the instructions are
executable to receive the request to access the media consumption
data from the other user, the other user being connected to the
user in a social network, and to provide the other user with access
to the media consumption data based on a determination that the
sharing status is non-private.
4. The media server system of claim 2, where the instructions are
executable to receive the request to access the media consumption
data from the media content item recommendations program, and to
provide the media recommendations program with access to the media
consumption data based on a determination that the recommendations
status includes a "true" recommendations status.
5. The media server system of claim 1, where the instructions are
further executable to: receive, from a client, a retroactive
request to change the item-specific privacy status of media
consumption data for a selected previously consumed media content
item, and in response, update the item-specific privacy status in
the media consumption data for the selected previously consumed
media content item.
6. The media server system of claim 2, where the instructions are
executable to: receive, from a client, a retroactive request to
change the recommendations status for a selected previously
consumed media content item, in response, update the
recommendations status in the media consumption data for the
selected previously consumed media content item, update the media
content item recommendations to form updated media content item
recommendations, and output the updated media content item
recommendations to the client.
7. The media server system of claim 2, where the instructions are
executable to: determine a predicted sharing status for a next
media content item based on a previously collected media
consumption data and output the predicted sharing status to the
client along with the next media content item.
8. The media server system of claim 2, where instructions are
executable to: determine a predicted recommendations status for a
next media content item based on previously collected media
consumption data, and output the predicted recommendations status
to the client for along with the next media content item associated
with the particular media content item identifier.
9. A media presentation client system comprising: a client logic
subsystem to execute instructions; and a client data-holding
subsystem holding instructions executable by the client logic
subsystem to: receive from a user a sharing status input indicating
a sharing status associated with a media content item consumed by
the user, the sharing status indicating a private sharing status or
a non-private sharing status, receive from the user a
recommendations status input indicating a recommendations status
associated with the media content item, the recommendations status
indicating a "true" recommendations status or a "false"
recommendations status, and send to a display one or more status
display objects representative of the sharing status and the
recommendations status.
10. The method of claim 9, where the media presentation client
system further includes the display.
11. The media presentation client system of claim 9, where client
data-holding subsystem holds further instructions to: send to a
media server media consumption data including a media content item
identifier identifying the media content item consumed by the user,
the sharing status, and the recommendations status, receive from
the media server one or more media content item recommendations
responsive to said sending of the media consumption data, and
output to the display the one or more media content item
recommendations.
12. The media presentation client system of claim 11, where the
instructions are executable to: receive from the user an input of a
retroactive request to change one or more of the sharing status and
the recommendations status of the media consumption data, send to
the media server the retroactive request including one or more of
an updated sharing status and an updated recommendations status for
the media consumption data, receive from the media server updated
media content item recommendations responsive to the send of the
retroactive request, and output the updated media content item
recommendations to the display.
13. The media presentation client system of claim 9, where the
instructions are executable to: receive from a media server one or
more of a predicted sharing status and a predicted recommendations
status for a next media content item, and upon initiation of
consumption of the next media content item, update the one or more
status display objects to represent the one or more of the
predicted sharing status and the predicted recommendations
status.
14. The media presentation client system of claim 9, where the
non-private sharing status indicates a set of other users connected
to the user in a social network that are allowed access to media
consumption data for the media content item consumed by the
user.
15. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions
executable by a server computing device to: receive, from a client,
media consumption data for each media content item of a plurality
of media content items consumed by a user, the media consumption
data for each media content item comprising a media content item
identifier and a recommendations status including a "true"
recommendations status or a "false" recommendations status which
respectively indicate whether to include or to not include the
media consumption data when generating media content item
recommendations, generate the media content item recommendations
for the user based on media consumption data including the "true"
recommendations status, and output the media content item
recommendations to the client.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
instructions are further executable to: generate a predicted
recommendations status for a next media content item associated
with a particular media content item identifier based on previously
collected media consumption data including a particular
recommendations status and the particular media content item
identifier, and output the predicted recommendations status to a
client for the next media content item.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the
media consumption data for each media content item further
comprises a sharing status including a private sharing status or a
non-private sharing status which respectively indicate a more
restrictive sharing of the media consumption data or a less
restrictive sharing of the media consumption data with other users
connected to the user in a social network, and wherein the
computer-readable storage medium has further instructions to:
provide one or more of the other users with access to media
consumption data comprising the non-private sharing status.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the
instructions are further executable to: receive, from the client, a
retroactive request to change one or more of the sharing status and
the recommendations status in media consumption data for a selected
previously consumed media content item, and in response, update the
one or more of the sharing status and the recommendations status in
the media consumption data for the selected previously consumed
media content item.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the
instructions are further executable to: update the media content
item recommendations to form updated media content item
recommendations in response to the update of the recommendations
status, and output the updated media content item recommendations
to the client.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the
instructions are further executable to: generate a predicted
sharing status for a next media content item associated with a
particular media content item identifier based on previously
collected media consumption data including a particular sharing
status and the particular media content item identifier, and output
the predicted sharing status to a client.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Network-based media services, such as internet television
services and other streaming media services, may store a user
profile for each user of the media service. Various settings
related to media consumption and user privacy may be stored in a
user's profile and adjusted by accessing the profile. For example,
a user may be able to choose whether to share information related
to any media content consumed by the user with other users in a
social network. Such privacy settings generally apply to all media
content consumed while the settings are active, and may be adjusted
by accessing the user profile via a menu system.
[0002] User profiles also may be affected by activities carried out
by a user while the user is consuming media (e.g., watching
television, listening to music). For example, a media consumption
history stored in a user's profile may affect recommendations of
other media content items generated by the media server for that
user. By using the user's activities to personalize the user
profile, a user may avoid having to manually provide these user
profile settings.
SUMMARY
[0003] Various embodiments related to the control of privacy
settings in a media consumption experience are described herein.
For example, in one disclosed embodiment, an example media server
system for generating media content item recommendations includes a
logic subsystem, and a data-holding subsystem holding instructions
executable by the logic subsystem to receive media consumption data
for each media content item of a plurality of media content items
consumed by a user. Media consumption data for each media content
item includes an item-specific privacy status and a media content
item identifier. The data-holding subsystem holds further
instructions executable to receive, from one or more of another
user and a media content item recommendations program, a request
for access to the media consumption data for a media content item,
and to provide one or more of the other user and the media content
item recommendations program with access to the media consumption
data for the media content item based on the item-specific privacy
status of the media consumption data for the media content
item.
[0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not
limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages
noted in any part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system
for communicating media information between clients and a server
system.
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system
for generating media content item recommendations.
[0007] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a
method for generating media content item recommendations.
[0008] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a user
interface by which a user can provide status inputs and view status
feedback.
[0009] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a
method for providing other users with access to media consumption
data.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a
method for retroactively changing a status of a media content
item.
[0011] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a
method for setting a predicted status.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] As mentioned above, a user consumes media (e.g., watches
television, watches movies, listens to music, etc.) via a media
client, information regarding the user's media consumption may be
sent by the client to a server system, where it may be used at the
server system to personalize a user's profile, or to influence
future media recommendations for the user. As one nonlimiting
example, while a user is watching a television show, a media client
sends information regarding consumption of the television show to a
server system. This information may be used, for example, in
selecting recommendations of other media content items for the
user. Further, in some use environments, other members of the
user's social network can view information regarding the media
content items consumed by the user.
[0013] However, in some situations, a user may not want certain
media content items to be used in the generation of
recommendations, and/or may want to keep the consumption of certain
media content items private from other users. For example, where a
child uses a parent's user account to view media content items, a
parent may not want content consumed by the child (e.g. cartoons)
to be used to generate recommendations for the parent. Likewise,
the parent may not wish for other users in his or her social
network to see the media content items consumed by the child.
[0014] However, adjusting such privacy settings in a user profile
may involve several steps, such as opening a menu system and
browsing through the menu to find the location in the menu at which
privacy settings can be changed. Further, viewing current privacy
settings may involve the same or similarly cumbersome process.
[0015] Therefore, various embodiments are disclosed herein that
relate to the control of media privacy settings such that a user
can easily view and change a privacy status. In some embodiments,
the privacy status is an item-specific privacy status. For example,
as described in more detail below, a user may assign a sharing
status, such as a private or non-private sharing status, to a
consumed media content item (e.g., television show, movie,
videoconference, song, podcast, etc.) such that the sharing status
is associated with the media content item, rather than with a user
profile. This sharing status is included in information sent to the
server system. Thus, referring to the television example provided
above, this feature allows a user to set a non-private sharing
status for a television show that the user would like other users
to know that the user is watching, or has previously watched. This
feature also allows the user to set a private sharing status for
television shows that the user would not like other users to know
that the user is watching or has previously watched, thereby hiding
the consumption of the television show from other users.
[0016] As described in more detail below, an item-specific privacy
status additionally or alternatively may include a recommendations
status, such as a "true" or "false" recommendations status. This
status allows a user to selectively indicate which consumed media
content items influence future media content item recommendations.
In the television example, a current television show will be used
as a basis upon which future media recommendations are generated if
the current television has a "true" recommendations status.
Likewise, if the current television show has a "false"
recommendations status, then it will not be included as a basis
upon which future media recommendations are generated.
[0017] In some embodiments, a user may retroactively change a
privacy status (e.g., a sharing status, a recommendations status)
of a previously consumed media content item. Further, in some
embodiments, a media server system may predict a privacy status for
future media items consumed by a user based on the user's media
consumption history stored at the server system.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an example system for
communicating media consumption data. Any number and type of
devices, such as a television 102, laptop 104, and mobile phone
106, may communicate with a media server system 108. The television
102 sends media consumption data 112 consumed via the television
102, the laptop 104 sends media consumption data 114 consumed via
the laptop 104, and the mobile phone 106 sends media consumption
data 116 consumed via the mobile phone 106 to the media server
system 108.
In this example, a same user consumes media content items via each
of the television 102, laptop 104, and mobile phone 106. As such,
each of media consumption data 112, media consumption data 114, and
media consumption data 116 are associated with user identifier 118
by the respective devices reporting the media consumption data.
User identifier 118 may be any type of data or combination of data
representative of the user's identity, including but not limited to
an identification code, user name, password, etc.
[0019] The media consumption data 112 from the television 102, the
media consumption data 114 from the laptop 104, and the media
consumption data 116 from the mobile phone 106 are aggregated and
stored at the media server system 108 in association with a same
user identifier 118. In this way, media consumption data regarding
media content items consumed in association with a user represented
by user identifier 118 can be reliably tracked regardless of a
source (e.g., media provider) of the consumed media content items,
or a device by which the user consumes media content items.
[0020] At times, a second user may consume media via the television
102, laptop 104, and/or mobile phone 106. In order to ensure that
media consumption by a first user is associated with a first user
identifier and that media consumption by the second user is
associated with a second user identifier, users of devices
communicating with the media server system 108 may be asked to
provide a user log-in in order to consume media content items
and/or in order to track media consumption, as just one example.
Alternately, users other than a majority, or default, user may be
allowed to log in as a guest in order to consume media content
items. By allowing the second user to log in as a guest, ensuing
media consumption can be associated with a guest identifier,
thereby avoiding an inappropriate association of the ensuing media
consumption data with the first user identifier. Further, as
described in more detail below, a user may retroactively change the
sharing and/or recommendation status of any such items viewed by
others.
[0021] Media content item recommendations output by media server
are indicated at 120. In some embodiments, the same media content
item recommendations 120 may be output to the user's television
102, the laptop 104, and the mobile phone 106. However, in other
cases, different media content item recommendations may be output
to different devices, for example, based on a time at which the
media content item recommendations are generated, or based on a
type of media content items that are viewable on each of the
devices. It is to be understood that different media content item
recommendations may be sent to different users based on each user's
media consumption data.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a system
200 for generating media content item recommendations. A media
presentation client system 202 includes a client logic subsystem
204 and a client data-holding subsystem 206 holding instructions
executable by client logic subsystem 204 to output a media content
item (e.g., video file, video streaming, audio file, audio
streaming, etc.) for presentation via a client display 210.
Although not shown, it will be understood that the media content
item may be received at the media presentation client system 202
from the media server system 212 or a third party media provider
(not shown).
[0023] As described above, the media presentation client system 202
is configured to receive from a user a privacy status input 270.
The privacy status input 270 may include a sharing status input 214
indicating a sharing status 224 that is of one of a private sharing
status and a non-private sharing status for a media content item.
As discussed in more detail with respect to FIG. 3, the sharing
status 224 indicates whether information regarding consumption of a
media content item can be shared with other users of the media
server system 212, and/or other users 216 connected to a user 218
in a social network 230.
[0024] The privacy status input 270 may additionally or
alternatively include a recommendations status input 226 indicating
a recommendations status 236 including one of a "true"
recommendations status and "false" recommendations status. As
discussed in more detail with respect to FIG. 3, the
recommendations status 236 indicates whether the media content item
is useable to generate media content item recommendations.
[0025] The media presentation client system 202 may further be
configured to output one or more status display objects 242
representative of the privacy status 272 to the client display 210.
That is, the one or more status display objects 242 may represent
one or more of the sharing status 224 and the recommendations
status 236 so that a user is presented with visual feedback
regarding changes made to the sharing status 224 and/or
recommendations status 236, for example. An example of status
display objects is shown and described with respect to FIG.
4A-4D.
[0026] The media consumption data 244 output by the media
presentation client system 202 to the server system is shown as
including a media content item identifier 220 representative of the
media content item consumed by the user, and the privacy status
272, which includes the sharing status 224 and/or the
recommendations status 236. It will be understood that any suitable
set of media consumption data 244 may be sent to the media server
system 212.
[0027] The media server system 212 includes a logic subsystem 246
to execute instructions, and a data-holding subsystem 248 holding
instructions executable by the logic subsystem 246 to aggregate
media consumption data received from clients. The instructions may
further be executable to generate media content item
recommendations 252 based on the media consumption data for each
media content item, and/or to receive and respond to requests from
other users to view a user's media consumption data. It will be
understood that programs for executing these functionalities may be
stored and executed locally on media server system 212, or may be
stored and executed on remote systems in communication with media
server system 212.
[0028] The logic subsystem 246 of media server system 212 may
include one or more physical devices configured to execute one or
more instructions. For example, the logic subsystem 246 may be
configured to execute one or more instructions that are part of one
or more programs, routines, objects, components, data structures,
or other logical constructs. Such instructions may be implemented
to perform a task, implement a data type, transform the state of
one or more devices, or otherwise arrive at a desired result,
including but not limited to performing the embodiments described
herein. The logic subsystem 246 may include one or more processors
that are configured to execute software instructions. Additionally
or alternatively, the logic subsystem 246 may include one or more
hardware or firmware logic machines configured to execute hardware
or firmware instructions. The logic subsystem 246 may optionally
include individual components that are distributed throughout two
or more devices, which may be remotely located in some
embodiments.
[0029] Data-holding subsystem 248 may include one or more physical,
non-transitory, devices configured to hold data and/or instructions
executable by the logic subsystem to implement the herein described
methods and processes. When such methods and processes are
implemented, the state of data-holding subsystem 248 may be
transformed (e.g., to hold different data). Data-holding subsystem
248 may include removable storage media and/or built-in devices.
Data-holding subsystem 248 may include optical memory devices,
semiconductor memory devices, and/or magnetic memory devices, among
others. Data-holding subsystem 248 may include devices with one or
more of the following characteristics: volatile, nonvolatile,
dynamic, static, read/write, read-only, random access, sequential
access, location addressable, file addressable, and content
addressable. In some embodiments, logic subsystem 246 and
data-holding subsystem 248 may be integrated into one or more
common devices, such as an application specific integrated circuit
or a system on a chip.
[0030] Although not shown in FIG. 2, an aspect of the data-holding
subsystem 248 may be in the form of computer-readable removable
media, which may be used to store and/or transfer data and/or
instructions executable to implement the herein described methods
and processes.
[0031] FIGS. 3-7 illustrate embodiments of methods for controlling
media privacy settings. It will be understood that the methods and
processes that are described herein with respect to FIGS. 3-7 may
be executed by one or more computing systems, such as the media
server system 212 illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0032] Turning now to FIG. 3, a flowchart illustrates an embodiment
of a method 300 for generating media content item recommendations.
At 302, a media presentation client system (e.g., media
presentation client system 202) receives a privacy status input
from a user.
[0033] In some embodiments, the privacy status may comprise a
sharing status, as indicated at 304 where the sharing status input
indicates a sharing status associated with a media content item
consumed by a user. The sharing status may indicate a private
sharing status or a non-private sharing status which respectively
indicate a more restrictive sharing of the media consumption data
or a less restrictive sharing of the media consumption data with
other users connected to the user in a social network. It will be
appreciated that the private and non-private sharing statuses
described herein are presented for the purpose of example, and that
any other suitable set of statuses may be used.
[0034] Further, in some embodiments, the privacy status input at
302 may comprise a recommendations status input at 306, where the
recommendations status input indicates a recommendations status
associated with the media content item. The recommendations status
may include, for example, a "true" recommendations status or a
"false" recommendations status respectively indicating whether to
include or to not include the media consumption data when
generating media content item recommendations. It will be
appreciated that the "true" and "false" recommendations statuses
described herein are presented for the purpose of example, and that
other suitable statuses may be used. For example, in some
embodiments, a spectrum of more than two recommendations statuses
may be used.
[0035] Continuing with method 300, at 308, the privacy status is
set at the media presentation client system. This may include
setting the sharing status at 310, and/or setting the
recommendations status at 312. It will be understood that the
setting of a privacy status refers to a storage of the privacy
status in such a manner that it is associated with the media
consumption data for the corresponding media content item.
[0036] As described, the sharing status and/or recommendations
status can be set for each media content item such that
item-by-item control of sharing can be implemented. In another
example, a sharing status or recommendations status may indicate a
particular time frame during which a requested status is to apply
(e.g., a non-private sharing status from 9 am-5 pm on weekdays, a
private sharing status for other times). In another example, a
sharing status input or a recommendations status input may indicate
a desired sharing status or a desired recommendations status for a
particular type of media content items (e.g., "true"
recommendations status for classical music and "false"
recommendations status for pop music).
[0037] Although described with respect to a media content item
being consumed, it will be appreciated that a sharing status input
and/or a recommendations status input also may be received when a
user is setting up a recording of one or more media content items.
For example, a user may indicate a sharing status input and/or a
recommendations status input to be associated with a series of
television shows the user is preparing to record. Further, a user
may indicate a default sharing status and/or default
recommendations status, such that the default status applies to all
media content items consumed until changed. Additionally, a user
may be provided with granular controls, such that, for example, the
user can "increase" or "decrease" a privacy setting (e.g., sharing
status) from a default privacy setting (e.g., default sharing
status). This may allow a user to share media consumption
information with different subsets of other users in the user's
social network. Similarly, in some embodiments, a user may be able
to indicate several sub-statuses within a sharing status or within
a recommendations status.
[0038] Continuing with FIG. 2, at 314, the media presentation
client system outputs one or more status display objects
representative of the privacy status to the display. Accordingly,
the one or more status display objects may represent the sharing
status and/or the recommendations status. FIGS. 4A-4D show a
schematic view of an example user interface that shows current
status information via display objects, and by which a user can
easily and intuitively provide a sharing status input and/or a
recommendations status input. It is to be understood that the
example of FIG. 4A-4D is shown for the purpose of illustration, and
is not meant to be limiting in any way. For example, a privacy
status may be updated in any other suitable manner, such as via a
dedicated button on a remote control device, etc.
[0039] At screen 410 of FIG. 4A, a video (a media content item) is
presented on display 412 for a user's consumption. A sharing status
icon 414 and a recommendations status icon 416 (e.g., status
display objects) are overlaid on the video presentation. In this
nonlimiting example, the sharing status icon 414 graphically
represents a sharing status associated with the video currently
being consumed by the user. As indicated by sharing status icon 414
("Sharing is on"), the current sharing status associated with the
video being consumed is a non-private sharing status. That is,
friends of the user are allowed to access information related to
the user's consumption of the video.
[0040] The recommendations status icon 416 graphically indicates
"Recommendations is on", reflecting that the recommendations status
associated with the video currently being consumed includes a
"true" recommendations status. That is, the video may be used, by a
media content item recommendations program, to generate media
content item recommendations.
[0041] If a user wishes to change the sharing status or
recommendations status, the user can indicate selection of the
sharing status icon 414 via touch or mouse cursor input, as some
examples. User selection of the sharing status icon 414 at screen
410 causes the screen at FIG. 4B to be presented. Here, a sharing
pane 418 is overlaid on the video presentation including radio
button 420 indicating a current sharing status. The user provides a
sharing status input by selecting radio button 422 of sharing pane
418, thereby causing the presentation of the screen at FIG. 4C. In
this case, as shown at FIG. 4C, selection of radio button 422
causes an automatic deselection of the radio button 420 and text of
the sharing status icon 414 is updated to reflect the user's
selection ("Sharing is off"), and the sharing status is updated in
the media consumption data for the media content item being
consumed (e.g., the video). Actuation of the sharing status icon
414 at the screen shown at FIG. 4C causes the sharing pane 418 to
be hidden, and the screen at FIG. 4D to be presented. At FIG. 4D,
the change in the sharing status is reflected by the text
description of the sharing status icon 414 (e.g., "Sharing is
off"). As depicted, a user may easily view a privacy status (e.g.,
a sharing status and/or a recommendation status) for a media
content item being consumed, and also may make status changes
without accessing a user profile.
[0042] In this example, the user can similarly select the
recommendations status icon 416 and be presented with options to
provide a recommendations status input. Upon receipt of a
recommendations status input by the user, the recommendations
status can be set, and the recommendations status icon can be
updated to reflect the recommendations status.
[0043] It will be appreciated that the sharing status icon 414 and
the recommendations status icon 416 are shown for the purpose of
example, and are not intended to be limiting in any manner, as any
suitable representation of the sharing status or the
recommendations status, including one or more of graphics (e.g.,
avatars), text, voice-over, etc. may be used.
[0044] Turning back to FIG. 3, media consumption data for each
media content item that is consumed is output to the media server
system (e.g., media server system 212) at 316. As mentioned above,
the media consumption data may include a media content item
identifier, a user identification, and/or a privacy status
including one or more a sharing status and a recommendation status.
The media content item identifier may indicate a type of media
content item and/or an identity of the media content item. As a
specific example, a media content item identifier for a video may
indicate that the video is a television show of a particular genre,
and may also indicate a particular episode of the television show
was consumed. The media consumption data also may include any other
type of data related to the consumption of the media content item,
such as a time of consumption, a duration of consumption, etc.
[0045] At 318, the media server system receives the media
consumption data for the media content item. It will be appreciated
that the media server system can receive media consumption data in
real-time (e.g., as the media content items are consumed),
periodically (e.g., via daily synchronization, after a certain
number of media content items have been consumed, etc.), or in any
other suitable manner.
[0046] At 320, the media server system (e.g., a media content item
recommendations program executable on the media server system)
generates media content item recommendations for the user based on
media consumption data for media content items that comprise a
"true" recommendations status. As described above, the generating
of media content item recommendations may include excluding media
consumption data that include a "false" recommendations status. The
generation of such recommendations may be triggered in any suitable
manner. For example, recommendations may be generated when a user
first starts a media consumption session, when a user initiates a
media discovery process during consumption, etc.
[0047] Next, at 322, media content item recommendations are output
from the media server system to the media presentation client,
which receives the recommendations at 324. Then, at 322, the media
presentation client system outputs the one or more media content
item recommendations to the display.
[0048] As mentioned above, in some embodiments, media consumption
data for a user may be accessed by other users, such as other users
in the user's social network, if the user desires to share such
information. Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating an
example method for providing other users with access to a user's
media consumption data.
[0049] At 502, method 500 includes identifying other users
connected to the user in a social network, such as social network
230 that are allowed access to media consumption data that include
a non-private sharing status, and/or identifying such other users
connected to the user in the social network that are not allowed
access to media consumption data with a private sharing status.
Such identification may comprise, for example, receiving a user
input adding another user to the social network, receiving a user
input specifying a subset of other users in the social network that
can access media consumption data with a private sharing status,
etc.
[0050] Next, at 504, the media server system receive a request from
one of the other users for access to the user's media consumption
data for a selected media content item. Such a request from another
user may take any suitable form. For example, the request may
comprise a request to navigate to the user's webpage or to a user's
profile of a social networking application, for example.
[0051] At 506, it is determined if the media consumption data
requested by the other user has a non-private sharing status. Such
a non-private sharing status may indicate that all other users
connected to the user in a social network are allowed access to
that media consumption data, may indicate that a subset of other
users are allowed access that media consumption data, or may
indicate any other suitable status. If the sharing status is
determined to be non-private, the other user is allowed access to
the media consumption data for that media content item at 508.
[0052] On the other hand, if the answer is no at 506, and the
sharing status is private, then method 500 proceeds to 510 to
determine if the other user is included in a user-defined subset of
other users that are allowed access to media consumption data
having the private sharing status. If the answer is yes at 510, the
other user is allowed access to the media consumption data at 508.
On the other hand, if the answer is no at 510, the media server
system does not allow the other user access to the media
consumption data, as indicated at 512.
[0053] As mentioned above, a user may wish to retroactively change
a privacy status, such as a sharing status or a recommendations
status, of a media content item that the user previously consumed.
As just one example, a user may forget to provide a sharing status
input or a recommendations status input, or may inadvertently
provide an undesired sharing status input or an undesired
recommendations status input during consumption of a media content
item (e.g. when another family member, such as a child, is viewing
media content). As such, in some embodiments, a user may be allowed
to retroactively correct the privacy status (e.g., the sharing
status or recommendations status).
[0054] An example of such a retroactive change is described with
respect to method 600 shown at FIG. 6. At 602, the media
presentation client system receives, from the user, an input of a
retroactive request to change one or more of the sharing status and
the recommendations status of media consumption data for a selected
previously consumed media content item. For example, a user may
wish to change a recommendations status of media consumption data
for one or more media content items to include the "false"
recommendations status and media consumption data for one or more
other media content items to include the "true" recommendations
status, after viewing media content item recommendations. At 604,
the media presentation client system then outputs, to the media
server system, the retroactive request including one or more of an
updated sharing status and an updated recommendations status for
the selected previously consumed media content item.
[0055] In cases where a sharing status and/or a recommendations
status are locally stored at a client, the client may also set the
updated sharing status and/or the updated recommendations status
indicated by the retroactive request, as indicated at 606. Further,
the client may update the status display objects to represent the
one or more of the updated sharing status and the updated
recommendations status at 608 to provide visual feedback to the
user.
[0056] At 610, the media server system receives the retroactive
request from the client. Then, at 612, the sharing status and/or
the recommendations status of the media consumption data for the
selected previously consumed media content item are updated at the
media server system.
[0057] At 614, if the request includes an updated recommendations
status, the media server system may update the media content item
recommendations based on the updated recommendations status. This
updating may occur automatically (e.g. where the retroactive
request was sent in response to a previous recommendations output),
or may occur upon a next triggering event for the generation of
recommendations. The updated media content item recommendations are
output to the media presentation client system at 616, and are
accordingly received at the media presentation client system at
618. Then, the updated media content item recommendations are
output to a display at 620 for a user's review. In some cases, the
user may receive a notification along with the updated media
content item recommendations indicating particular media content
items that will now influence or not influence media content item
recommendations, based on the retroactive request.
[0058] In some embodiments, a media server system may be configured
to recognize patterns related to a user's privacy status selections
over a period of time, or over a volume of consumption. Thus, the
media server system may be configured to predict a user's sharing
status and/or recommendations status for a next media content item.
Turning now to FIG. 7, an example method 700 for setting a
predicted status is illustrated.
[0059] First, at 702, the media server detects that a next media
item that may be consumed by the user does not have one or more
user-selected privacy statuses (e.g., a sharing status, a
recommendations status). Then, at 704, the media server system
determines a predicted privacy status for the next media content
item, such as a predicted sharing status and/or a predicted
recommendations status. It will be understood that the media server
may determine, or generate, a predicted privacy status for any
media content items that are available for future viewing and that
do not include user-selected privacy statuses, for example.
[0060] The predicted privacy statuses may be determined based upon
any suitable criteria. For example, a predicted sharing status may
be determined based on a frequency with which previously collected
media consumption data includes a particular sharing status in
association with a particular media content item identifier. If a
user frequently sets the sharing status non-private while watching
television, but frequently sets the sharing status to private while
watching movies, the predicted sharing status for a next media
content item related to television may include the non-private
sharing status whereas the predicted sharing status for a next
media content item related to movies may include the private
sharing status. As a more specific example, if a user frequently
sets the sharing status to include a private sharing status while
watching a competitive dancing television show, the predicted
sharing status for a next viewing of the competitive television
show may include the private sharing status. It will be understood
that such predictions may be based on any suitable media
consumption data, including but not limited media content item
ratings, genres, broadcast times, actors/directors/producers,
etc.
[0061] A predicted recommendations status may be based on a
frequency with which previously collected media consumption data
includes a particular recommendations status in association with a
particular media content item identifier. For example, if a user
frequently sets the recommendations status to include the "true"
recommendations status for a first style of music and frequently
sets the recommendations status to include the "false"
recommendations status for a second style of music, the predicted
recommendations status for media content items related to the first
style of music may include the "true" recommendations status
whereas the predicted recommendations status for media content
items related to the second style of music may include the "false"
recommendations status. It will be understood that such predictions
may be based on any suitable media consumption data, including but
not limited to media content item ratings, genres, broadcast times,
actors/directors/producers, etc.
[0062] At 706, the predicted sharing status and/or predicted
recommendations status is output from the media server system to
the media presentation client system. At 708, the media
presentation client system receives and sets the one or more of the
predicted sharing status and the predicted recommendations status.
Next, at 710, consumption of a next media content item (e.g.,
associated with a particular media content item identifier) is
initiated at the media presentation client system. At 712, the
media presentation client system may automatically update the one
or more status display objects to represent the one or more of the
predicted sharing status and the predicted recommendations status,
so that a user can be made aware of the predicted sharing status
and/or the predicted recommendations status. In other cases, the
status display object(s) may be semi-automatically updated, such
that a user is notified of a predicted privacy status and can
provide input to accept or reject the predicted privacy status.
[0063] It will be understood that a user may be allowed to accept
or reject a predicted privacy status. For example, at 714, the
media presentation client system may receive from the user a
sharing status input indicating a sharing status for the media
content item and/or a recommendations status input indicating a
recommendations status for the media content item. Then, at 716, it
is determined if the user is confirming or rejecting the predicted
sharing status and/or predicted recommendations status. In some
cases, this may include determining if the sharing status input
and/or recommendations status input is the same as the status
indicated by the status input received from the user.
[0064] If the answer is yes at 716, the media presentation client
system maintains the predicted sharing status and/or
recommendations status, and thus may output the media consumption
data including the predicted sharing status and/or the predicted
recommendations status at 718. However, if the answer is no at 716,
the media presentation client system does not maintain the
predicted sharing status and/or recommendations status. Therefore,
at 720, the method 700 includes updating the status display
object(s) to represent the privacy statuses associated with the
status input received. At 722, the media presentation client system
may output media consumption data that does not include the
predicted sharing status and/or predicted recommendations status
but, rather, includes the statuses indicated by the status input
received from the user at 714
[0065] Although the sharing status and recommendations status are
described herein as independent statuses, it will be appreciated
that, in other examples, the recommendations status may be
dependent on the sharing status, and/or vice versa. As such, a
predicted recommendations status may be based on a sharing status,
or a predicted sharing status may be based on a recommendations
status.
[0066] It is to be understood that the configurations and/or
approaches described herein are exemplary in nature, and that these
specific embodiments or examples are not to be considered in a
limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The
specific routines or methods described herein may represent one or
more of any number of processing strategies. As such, various acts
illustrated may be performed in the sequence illustrated, in other
sequences, in parallel, or in some cases omitted. Likewise, the
order of the above-described processes may be changed.
[0067] The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all
novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the
various processes, systems and configurations, and other features,
functions, acts, and/or properties disclosed herein, as well as any
and all equivalents thereof.
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